theos-talk.com

[MASTER INDEX] [DATE INDEX] [THREAD INDEX] [SUBJECT INDEX] [AUTHOR INDEX]

[Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next]

Identifying the enemy

Feb 14, 2006 08:44 AM
by Robert Bruce MacDonald


Is Theos-Talk on the verge of an epiphany? Are we getting closer to the kind of Brotherly interaction that the Movement was designed to foster? The Theosophical Society has been blind and hurt for over 100 years. Perhaps it is the case that a Daniel Caldwell was necessary, a Paul Johnson was necessary, and Theo-Talk was necessary. We are beginning to understand what is keeping us divided, it is our IGNORANCE concerning the type of behavior exhibited by the likes of Daniel Caldwell. The members of Theos-Talk have had to endure this type of behavior for many years and maybe it is time to hear what they have learned. There are many Daniel Caldwells in the world, perhaps it is time to identify their behavior, know why it is inappropriate and call them on it. Ignorance is the enemy. Understanding this ignorance is the sword that will slay that enemy.

For those interested in this discussion, allow me to start it off. What of the practice of calling you on some point you are trying to make and showing how you are guilty of the same mistake and then providing close to one hundred examples of it and threatening you with more. What is happening here? Most often, when you look at the examples it is a case of comparing apples with oranges. This leaves you with the task of having to justify your point by demonstrating how each example does not apply. What if one or two do apply? Who cares? We evolve and change as humans and if in the course of a discussion in the here and now we come to new conclusions, does that get invalidated by mistakes that we made in the past? Brotherhood means being allowed to make mistakes because that is one of the few ways that we learn. We should not be forced to acknowledge every error that we have ever made and make amends for them. That is what Karma is for, does Daniel think that he is an agent of Karma?

What do you do when someone throws such a list at you? Perhaps one solution would be to counter with the following:
"That is quite the list you have there, however, I suspect you are comparing apples with oranges. Perhaps you can take one of the examples and demonstrate how you think it is appropriate to the present context."
Make him do the work! Do not let him take over the course of the debate and control it by putting you on the defensive.

Is there any other insights that anyone wants to share on the behavior of Caldwell/Green/Hobbes?

Sincerely, Bruce

_________________________________________________________________
Scan and help eliminate destructive viruses from your inbound and outbound e-mail and attachments. http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines Start enjoying all the benefits of MSNŽ Premium right now and get the first two months FREE*.



[Back to Top]


Theosophy World: Dedicated to the Theosophical Philosophy and its Practical Application